Thermal responsive safety closure



Aug. 10, 1954 c LISCIANI THERMAL RESPONSIVE SAFETY CLOSURE Filed Feb. 24, 1951 v n n x w rill M a n m e. M I h u m m J /m n w J a u a 2 m F a ,ll. I: Q .z 7 E. v n

Patented Aug. 10, 1954 THERMAL RESPONSIVE SAFETY CLOSURE Constantine Lisciani, Chicago, 111., assignor to The Protectoseal Company,

poration of Illinois Chicago, 111., a cor- Application February 24, 1951, Serial No. 212,661

The present invention relates to a thermal responsive closure device for containers of inflammable material.

More particularly, the invention relates to a thermal responsive closure device having an improved thermal responsive release mechanism.

While there are many known thermal responsive closure devices for use on containers of inflammable material, none of these are suitable for use with disposable containers, such as a five gallon paint can. Such containers are inexpensive and non-returnable once the product contained therein has been used, and are often used by many plants as receptacles. for sticky, combustible materials, such as masks, paint rags, brushes, and the like, and then thrown away. It is apparent that containers used in this manner with no cover member constitute a fire hazard. It is desirable that such containers have a cover member therefor which is. normally adapted to be maintained open, but which will close over the container in response to a fire occurring therein. Further, it is necessary that the cover devices for such containers be sufiiciently quick-acting in response to a fire being created in its vicinity, and be relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

It is therefore one object of the present invention to provide thermal responsive closure devices which can be easilyattached to and 'removed from disposable containers of inflammable materials.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved thermal responsive closure device for containers of inflammable material which is more sensitive in its action than previously known devices of the same nature, and which is relatively cheap to construct.

,A further obect of the invention is to provide a thermal responsive device having a novel thermal responsive release mechanism for use with a closure member for containers of inflammable material, the release mechanism being relatively cheap to manufacture, and positive in its action.

A feature of this invention is the provision of a closure device for a container of inflammable material which includes a U-shaped clip adapted to fit over the side of the container and having a stop element formed on one of its legs, a cover -member hinged to the stop element, and a thermal responsive release mechanism secured to the cover member and co-acting with the stop element for closing the cover member over the \containerin response to the occurrence of'a, large 3 Claims. (01. 220-89) amount of heat in the vicinity of the container.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of a thermal responsive release mechanism for use on a closure device for containers of inflammable materials which includes a chassis member, an axially movable pusher element slidably seated on the chassis member, a biasing spring co-acting with the chassis member and the pusher element for normally biasing the pusher element to axially move in a predetermined direction, and a connecting link constructed of a fusible material connected to the pusher element and to the chassis member for retaining the pusher element against the action of the bias spring.

Other objects, features, and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be appreciated readily as the same becomes understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein similar parts in each of the several figures are designated by the same reference numeral, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational View of a partially broken away, disposable container for inflammable materials having an improved thermal responsive closure device mounted thereon; and

Fig. 2 is asectional view of the container shown in Fig. 1, and illustrates the construction of the improved closure device and release mechanism comprising the invention.

Referring now to Fig. 1 of the drawings, a container is shown at H. The container It may be a five gallon paint can, or some other similar disposable container suitable for use as a receptacle for inflammable waste materials, which is relatively inexpensive and may be discarded along with the waste products contained therein. Removably mounted on the container l I is a closure device I2 comprising the invention.

The closure device l2 includes a cover member l3 adapted to fit over the open top of the container II, and, as is best shown in Fig. 2, having an indented portion I4 formed on one side thereof. The cover member 13 is hingedly secured to container l l by a hinge [5 having one of the legs thereof secured to the indented portion I 4 by welding, or some other means, and the remaining leg thereof secured to a stop element It. The stop element I 6 is formed integrally with a U- shaped clip having leg portions I7 and i8, the leg portion ll of the clip being extended and being reversely bent to form the stop element 16. The U-shaped clip I! and I8 is adapted'to slide over the edge of container H in the manner shown, and serves to secure cover member l3 on container II. By reason of the provision of the U-shaped clip for attaching cover member (3 to container II, it can be readily appreciated that the securing or removing of the cover member on or off the container is a very simple operation requiring very little or no effort at all.

The cover member I3 is adapted to be swung open to the position 'shown'in dotted lines in Fig. 1, where it co-acts with the stop element.l6

which serves to retain the cover member in the open position. Mounted oncover membeniltzis a thermal responsive release mechanism 2! which is adapted to co-act with the stopselement 16 to close the cover member I3 overconta-iner'l l in response to the occurrence of a large amount of heat in the vicinity of the container. .EIhe irelease mechanism 21 includes a unitary. chassis member 22 having a plurality of integral supports 23 and 24 extending transversely thereto. .Thesuppo'rt 23 is secured -to the-under surtace -f indented portion l of-cover member-13 by -welding, or-- some other means, and-each "of "the supports 23 and 24 have apertures therein adapted to align-with an aperture in the indented portion 14 otthe cover member. Slidably seated in'the apertures of-supports" '23 and =24, and the indented: portion i4 i cover member I3, is a :pusherielement comprising apush rod'-25. Push rod ffiihas a shoulder portion 25 formed thereon against'whieh one end of a biasing means com- .prising. a compression spring 27 abuts. The remaining end of compression spring 21 abuts against-one sideof support 24 in such a manner that the spring tends to force push ;rod 25 up- -wardly from its position shownin'Fig. 2 andout 'through the aperture in cover member I3. I Push rod:25 is restrainedagainst theaction ofbiasing spring -2l by a connecting link deconstructed of a fusible material, and having oneend connected to push rod 25 by a removable pin 29, and having theuremaining. end connected to chassis member 22 by a lock pin 3!.

a When the cover member 13 1is closed-over-the --container 1 l," the thermal responsive release mechanism 2! extends down into :the container in. the manner shown Figs; l and 2. :Upon -the cover member-being swung open to theposictionshown. in dotted lines in Fig. L the thermal responsive release mechanism extends transversely out from the cover-member in' the manner indicated so as to. position the =fusible' connectinglink -28 over the opening in the container. eBythig: construction, should a fire-occur within the. container; the fusible connecting linkhbeing positioned directly over the opening in the :container, isexposed to a-n'iamirmim degreetov any heat generate-dzthereby; and is melted away to a thickness suchthataitno longer can restrain-bias spring 2' 'Upon' theconnecting link 28 releasing bias spring 2!, push :rod 25 is forced out through the aperturein the recessed portion: *0? the cover. member, and acts. against the stop element 4 5. I This action. causes I the cover member-113.; to

vbe swung to. a iclosingzrposition -and-.thereby.

. smothers the fire-occurringinithe container Li I. From the foregoing: description; it cantbeuap- .preciated that: theta invention. provides "antimproved thermah responsive closure? device. which can be easily attached to, or removedafrom' dis- 'posable containers for "inflammable.rmaterials. lhe closure device is rconstructed mainly .ofisheet metaliparts' which maybe. punched out-f; integral pieces of sheet nietalgandiis therefore relasimplicity of the design of the elements out of which it is constructed, assembly of the elements into a complete structure is readily accomplished, and serves to reduce the overall cost of the closure device. Because of the novel construction of the release mechanism of the closure device, the fusible element of the mechanism is exposed to a maximumidegree to afire occurring infathe containeron whiclr'the device is used, and results "occurring in the container.

in an extremely sensitive reaction to any fire These and other features'andadvantages of the invention combine to provide a greatly improved thermal responsive -cl-osure-device;for use with disposable containers of inflammable materials.

Having thus' described my invention, it is obbe madein the same without departing from the spirit of' my invention;v hence, I do not wish to be understod as limiting myself to the exact form,

"construction, arrangement,- and: combination of parts hereinshown-and described, or uses-mentioned.

iWh-at I claim-as newand -desiretoesecure by Letters Patent is 1 A- closure -clevice fora container including a cover -member -movable from closed to open-position-withrespect to the opening ofthe container,

a.:U-shaped clip-"adapted to slide'down over and vengage; thessidewall of the :container for de- -tachably mounting theclosure device on the containeigione :of. therlegiportions of-said U-shaped .clip being reverselyibent: to form astop, a hinge having. one of. theslegs. thereof; securedto said stop and-:the .remainingleg thereofrsecured to :saidpoyerimember permitting the cover member to .be :raised to its. open,- position and. lowered .to -its.-'.closed position; a: thermally -.responsive :releasegmeans.operativeht secured; to.said cover :rnember. and "comprising; achassis. member. and

an axially moyablespri-ngmiased pusherrelement --adapted: to-coact; with saidstop intthe open stable position: of the; ;.cover- :member with :the free; end -01".the;pusher-a-element abutting the stop, and said thermally responsive ":releasemechanism comprising a; fusible link-operativelyrconnected to said pusher element and-.tosaid: chassis, said fusible linkeunderlyingssaid chassis 1 member in -the open position of the. cover member whereby .the link is exposed to. amaximumdegree to any tfire; in, the container zso. that ;upon the i melting of the link, the spring-biased pusher element causes the-cover member to'move. to an unstable .positionaway :f1=om.the -stop 1 allowing. the cover .member toyclose.-theopening of the container.

2.- =A; detachable closure device-i01 .an,,opening ofa acontainer. including a cover, member, a U- shaped clip adapted toslide down overandqengage the sidewall of a the container at e the opening 'ion.detachably mounting the c-losure deviceaon the containenoneotthe leg portions of said U-shaped .clipwbei-ng :rev.ers ely.- -bent- ,toform. a stop, a hinge .l'iaving one of 1 the legs thereof a secured to isaid stop :and the remaining leg. thereofsecured tosaid cover member, and a heat-responsive release -meehanism mountedaonsaidcover -member for .-.elosi-ng .the same "oven-said opening :of the -con ;-tai-ner, said release-mechanism including a chasfsisi member-,; operatively-, secured q to "said oover --member,, an axially, movable pusher-member slidably seatedaon .said chassis member :-b etween the -ehassis member and the. otherrleg-memben-ofthe aclp a nsaeineherint r or. fz hewc nt ineran ;ada-pted toengage said stop ,in the openposition .;tively;.cheap.-:toi manufacture. 2 Because; omthee:iofssaidr;coremanember, -.;biasin zmeans;z enacting with said chassis member and said pusher memher for normally biasing said pusher member to move in a direction towards said stop in the open position of said cover member, said chassis member extending below the pusher member, a fusible connecting link operativeiy connected between the lower ends of said pusher member said chassis member for restraining said pusher member against the action of said biasing means, and said fusible connecting link underlying said chassis member in the open position of said cover member, whereby the link is exposed to a maximum degree to any fire in the container so that upon melting of said connecting link with the cover member in its open position, the cover member is biased to its closed position.

3. A closure device for a container including a cover member for the opening of the container, a U-shaped clip adapted to slide down over and engage the sidewall of the container for detachably mounting the closure device on the container, one of the leg portions of said U-shaped clip being reversely bent to form a stop, a hinge having one of the legs thereof secured to said stop and the remaining leg thereof secured to said cover member, and a heat-responsive release mechanism operatively mounted on the under portion of said cover member for closing the same over said container, said heat-responsive release mechanism including a unitary chassis member 30 1378964 having integral supports extending transversely thereto, said supports having apertures therein aligned with an aperture in said cover member, a push rod slidably seated in the apertures in the integral supports of said chassis member and the cover member and adapted for engaging said stop in the open position or" said cover member, spring means coacting with said chassis member and said push rod for normally biasing push rod to move in a direction toward said step in the open position of said cover member with the release mechanism extending transversely over the opening, said chassis member extending outward- 1y beyond an end of the push rod, a fusible connecting link operatively connected between said end of the push rod and the contiguous end of said chassis member for restraining said push rod against the action of said spring means, and said fusible connecting link underlying said chassis member in the open position of said cover member, whereby the link is exposed to a maximum degree to any fire in the container so that upon melting of said connecting link With the cover member in its open position, the cover member is biased to its closed position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Lang May 24, 1921 1,729,493 Schlesinger Sept. 24, 1929 

